A single mother of five, Ms Stapleton was left reeling last week after thieves stole her Christmas decoration display that she had previously been unable to afford.

She had sold unwanted school books and surplus furniture just to be able to purchase the lights and make her five sons happy.

After reading Ms Stapleton’s story in The Courier, Delacombe resident Helen Holmes felt compelled to do something.

A long-time entrant in The Courier Christmas Lights Competition, Mrs Holmes and her husband Trevor now have a garage full of unused decorations.

They too were victims of theft and vandalism about five years ago.

“It’s hard work putting them up and we’re getting a bit past it these days,” Mrs Holmes said.

“We’ve been there, I know what she is going through and we are more than happy to help.”

Receiving the decorations yesterday, Ms Stapleton said she was blown away by the generosity from people she did not even know.

She had friends buy her new decorations over the weekend and Ballarat Regional Industries also donated a handmade wooden Santa set that were usually sold for money.

BRI manufacturing manager Andrew Clarke said the not-for-profit organisation wanted to do its part to help out somebody in need.

“It’s absolutely amazing, I wasn’t expecting anything like that at all,” Ms Stapleton said.

“It really does restore your faith in the community to see people willing to do something like this.”